Carbon County Court news
Prothonotary's report
A total of 292 cases were started in June in the office of Carbon County Prothonotary Joann M. Behrens, according to a monthly statistical report released by the officeholder. A breakdown of the cases is as follows:
Assessment appeals, 2; civil actions, 35; custody complaints, 30; district justice appeals, 4; divorce complaints, 18; complaint in ejectment, 1; license appeals, 2; mortgage foreclosure complaints, 31; name change petitions, 2; protection from abuse petitions, 39; quiet title action, 1; judgments, 122; miscellaneous cases, 3; paternity suit, 1; and stipulation/ waiver of liens; 1. The office staff also received and processed 110 applications for U.S. Passports.
Behrens' financial report shows $31,643.32 was generated last month as follows: prothonotary's fees, $26,496.24 interest income $6.78; custody fees; $450; data processing charges, $4,576; PFA Surcharge, courts, $64.30; PFA surcharge, Sheriff; $50.
The prothonotary also remitted $3,404.58 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue, representing state fees collected locally, and $84 to the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts, this being surcharges on new custody cases in accordance with Act 119 of 1996. Another $1,095 was deposited in the Prothonotary's Automation Fund for future use in automating the office.
Revenue from deeds
Carbon County Recorder of Deeds Emmett P. McCall reported his office recorded 186 deeds, 189 mortgages and 352 other writs during the month of June.
As a result of those transactions, McCall turned over to the Carbon County General Fund the sum of $25,339.03. A breakdown of that revenue includes: transfer fees, $20,269.50; data processing fees, $1,801.50; notaries, $120; commission on transfers and writs, $2,265.13; and Affordable Housing administrative fee, $882.90.
McCall remitted $363.50 in state writ taxes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, while Carbon County municipalities and school districts shared realty transfer tax disbursements totaling $112,530.95, the same amount that was forwarded to the state in realty transfer taxes.
McCall deposited $2,148 in the Recorder of Deeds Record Improvement Fund and $1,432 in the Carbon County Records Improvement Fund, these being fees assessed by state law on each transaction for records management needs. An additional $14,946 was collected and remitted to the state for its Judicial Computer System program.
Also, $5,003.10 was collected last month for the Affordable Housing Program in Carbon County.
In all, funds collected in the Recorder's office last month amounted to $274,293.53.
